What to Wear to Work: 7 Celebrity-Inspired Ways to Update Your Office Wardrobe for Spring

What to Wear to Work: 7 Celebrity-Inspired Ways to Update Your Office Wardrobe for Spring

A new season means fresh motivation on the job and a much-anticipated switch from your wintry office wear. We’re replacing ours with light layering pieces, gorgeous bags, and elegant shoes. Get shopping with this handy list of seven supremely chic but totally work-appropriate (and wallet-friendly) wardrobe essentials for the office.

What to Wear to Work: A Printed Shift Dress

Take the classic office staple up a notch with a blocked pattern, like Emma Stone’s sorbet swirled sheath. A bold geometric graphic lets you sneak in prints while keeping the look refined. Plus, the silhouette is versatile. Layer on a blazer for daytime meetings, and leave it at your desk when you head out for happy hour.

What to Wear to Work: A Printed Shift Dress

What to Wear to Work: A Printed Shift Dress

What to Wear to Work: A Pastel Blazer

Thank you, Emma Roberts, for bringing pastel blazers to our attention. The light hues give just enough color to get you noticed (by the higher-ups for that promotion, maybe?) but not so much that you’re a distraction at the next department meeting.

What to Wear to Work: A Pastel Blazer

What to Wear to Work: A Pastel Blazer

What to Wear to Work: A Patterned Cardigan

If Carrie Bradshaw worked in corporate (and faux Vogue doesn’t count), she’d be wearing a whimsical—but professional—cardi like this checked style her alter ego Sarah Jessica Parker is wearing. The workplace-layering staple serves two important purposes: First, the air-conditioning is permanently on high, and second, how else will you dress up a neutral shift dress/pencil skirt/black trousers? (Or depending on your office, maybe you can mix prints like Carrie, er, Sarah Jessica, totally would.)

What to Wear to Work: A Patterned Cardigan

What to Wear to Work: A Patterned Cardigan

What to Wear to Work: A Bold Silk Blouse

Based on the hot menswear-inspired trend, blouses are now fun to wear even outside the office—like January Jones here, looking lovely in her contrast-collar pink top. Feminine details, color plays, and beautiful prints give the foundation piece a decidedly springtime vibe.

What to Wear to Work: A Bold Silk Blouse

What to Wear to Work: A Bold Silk Blouse

What to Wear to Work: A Textured Pencil Skirt

Printed skirts are major for spring, but the office isn’t always the best place to break out cutesy florals or sultry leopard. You want to be taken seriously, right? But classic pencil skirts with texture—like Jaime King’s creamy embroidered tweed piece—have a special element while remaining office-appropriate. Bonus: You really will be able to wear the piece for years.

What to Wear to Work: A Textured Pencil Skirt

What to Wear to Work: A Textured Pencil Skirt

What to Wear to Work: Pointy-Toe Pumps

You’ll want to invest in a pair of commuter shoes just so you can wear spring’s pointy-toe pumps when you get to the office. And not to keep knocking basic black, but there are ways of keeping the heels profesh and injecting a little something extra—like texture details, ankle straps, the d’Orsay element, or tonal contrasts—like Olivia Palermo’s rose-strapped stilettos.

What to Wear to Work: Pointy-Toe Pumps

What to Wear to Work: Pointy-Toe Pumps

What to Wear to Work: A Structured Satchel

You know what they say: New season, new handbag. Or they really should start saying that. Ashley Madekwe’s structured satchel is the perfect example of the ultimate workbag. It’s roomy enough to hold all your job-required gadgets (tablet, smartphone, charger), plus any daytime essentials, without losing it’s polished, professional shape.